Fish oil n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids selectively affect plasma cytokines and decrease illness in Thai schoolchildren: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled intervention trial.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether very long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) affect illness and selected plasma cytokines in schoolchildren.


METHODS
Thai schoolchildren aged 9 to 12 years consumed milk containing placebo (soybean) oil (n = 86) or fish oil (n = 94) on 5 days per week for 6 months; the latter provided 200 mg eicosapentaenoic acid plus 1 g docosahexaenoic acid daily. Episodes and duration of illness were recorded, and plasma interleukin (IL)-2 receptor, IL-6, IL-10, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 concentrations and the fatty acid profile of plasma phosphatidylcholine determined.


RESULTS
After intervention, very long-chain n-3 PUFAs were higher in plasma phosphatidylcholine in the fish oil group than in the placebo group (P < .001). The fish oil group showed fewer episodes (P = .014) and shorter duration (P = .024) of illness (mainly upper respiratory tract) than the placebo group. Plasma IL-2 receptor, IL-10, and IL-6 were not affected by either treatment. Plasma TGF-beta1 increased in both groups, but the increase was smaller in the fish oil group, and at the end of supplementation TGF-beta1 concentration was lower in the fish oil group (P < .001).


CONCLUSIONS
Very long-chain n-3 PUFAs reduce illness, mainly infections, in healthy Thai schoolchildren.
Thienprasert
Alice
A
Faculty of Science, Silpakorn University, Nakornpathom, Thailand. alicet@su.ac.th
Samuhaseneetoo
Suched
S
Popplestone
Kathryn
K
West
Annette L
AL
Miles
Elizabeth A
EA
Calder
Philip C
PC
D002648:Child; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects*; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000097:blood; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013334:Students; D013785:Thailand; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D016207:Cytokines; D015850:Interleukin-6; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D016753:Interleukin-10; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid